PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 29, 2017
Food Deserts Act of 2017
This bill establishes a Department of Agriculture program to provide grants to states for revolving funds to support the establishment and operation of grocery stores in underserved communities.
An underserved community is a community that has (1) limited access to affordable, healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, in grocery retail stores or farmer-to-consumer direct markets; and (2) a high rate of hunger, a high rate of food insecurity, or a high poverty rate.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
States must use the funds to make loans to support grocery stores in underserved communities, including for opening a store (excluding new construction), supporting or purchasing an existing store, or supporting a store located in a community that would be underserved without the store.
States may only make loans for grocery stores that meet requirements related to:
emphasizing unprocessed, healthful foods;
providing staple foods and a variety of raw fruits and vegetables;
having a plan to keep the foods in stock;
charging prices at or below market averages;
meeting specified matching requirements using nonfederal funds; and
being qualified to operate a store or having partnerships with organizations that provide technical assistance.
States must prioritize loan applications from entities that meet criteria related to:
hiring workers from the underserved community,
providing classes or educational information about a healthful diet,
sourcing food from local urban farms and gardens,
not selling alcohol or tobacco products, or
demonstrating existing supply chain relationships in the grocery industry.
People & committees
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] · D–IN
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E928)
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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